In a sentence with a main clause and a si clause, the first uses the conditionell and the second the imparfait. For example, Je partirais si j'avais une voiture. Would it not make more sense to use the conditionelle for the si clause as well? After all, it also expresses a hypothetical situation. Why the different modes in the main clause and the si clause?
Why imparfait in the si clause?
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BertKwiziq community member
Why imparfait in the si clause?
This question relates to:French lesson "Conjugate most French verbs in the conditional present (Le Conditionnel Présent)"
Asked 5 months ago
Hi Bert,
I am afraid it is very wrong in French and often used as an example of bad French by comics :
Si j'aurais su, j'aurais pas v'nu = If I had known, I wouldn't have come
below spoken by a child in a well-known film -
https://jaimelesmots.com/ben-mon-vieux-si-jaurais-su-jaurais-pas-vnu/
As to why it's just the way it is, I believe it is the same in English, but am prepared to be corrected if I am wrong.
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Cécil is correct: conditional sentences are one of the few instances that follow the same pattern in English and French.
If I knew, I would tell you. -- Si je le savais, je te dirais.
Bert asked:View original
Why imparfait in the si clause?
In a sentence with a main clause and a si clause, the first uses the conditionell and the second the imparfait. For example, Je partirais si j'avais une voiture. Would it not make more sense to use the conditionelle for the si clause as well? After all, it also expresses a hypothetical situation. Why the different modes in the main clause and the si clause?
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